Mechanical-telephone exchange



(No Model.)

G. 1:'. SHAVER. MECHANICAL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

No. 444,463. Patented Jan. 13, 1891.

UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FREDERICK SHAVER, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE SllA/TER CORPORATION, OF NEV JERSEY.

MECHANICAL-TELEPHONE EXCHANGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,463, dated January 13, 1891.

Application filed May 6, 1890. Serial No. 350,754. (No modelr) To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FREDERICK SHAVER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of N ew Yori; city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical-Telephone Exchanges, of which the following is a specification.

The object ot' my invention is to provide means for mounting a number of mechanicaltelephone diaphragms of a mechanicaltelephone exchange in a more compact form than has been heretofore attain ed, and also to afford intercommunication between the telephonelines connected thereto without the use of a switching device. The means whereby this end is attained is shown in the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l shows a plan view of the device. Fig. 2 shows a plan of the primary or front sounding-board. Fig. 3 shows a plan of a secondaryT or underlying sounding-board; and Fig. et shows a cross-section of the two sounding-boards and the method of mounting the same, the drawings showing a section drawn through the line t a).

Lilie letters refer to like parts in the different figures.

A represents a sounding-board, to which are attached two or more diaphragms D and connecting lineavires E.

Bis a similar sounding-board fitted with diaphragme d and line-wires E.

O is an apertured partition -board interposed between A and B, said apertures being of the same diameter and concentric with the dia phragms D.

a b are thin boards also arranged with apertures concentric to the diaphragms D d, but of somewhat smaller diameter.

F F are mouth -pieces arranged upon the board A, through which they pass, thence through the sounding-board B, where they open into voealizingchambers formed by the intersect-lon of the said sounding -boa-rd B with the apertures in the board l) and the dia phragms d.

G G are mouthpieces also arranged upon the sounding-board A and passing through said board to the voealizingchamber formed by the intercession of said board with the apertured board a and diaphragins D.

The diaphragms D are so mounted upon the boards A with respect to the diaphragms CZ and the sounding-board D that no interference occurs, as the line-wires E from the diaphragms D pass through the open space between the diaphragms d, so that although the peripheries of the diaphragms apparently overlap, yet the partition-board C separates one board and attached diaphragms from the other. The apertures in the board C and the boards a and b provide an open space on both sides of every diaphragm-an arrangement essential to good working qualities.

The boards A B a l) c are 'fastened together and vibrate as one single sounding-board. The vibration of any excited line sets the other lines into vih 1ation through the action of the sounding-boards, and thus messages may be sent from one line to any 0r all the others mounted upon the board without eX- traneous mechanism. It is obvious that while but two lines are connected only one sounding-board will be required; but in either ease the vibration from one line will be transmitted to the others by means of the vibration of the soundingboard. rlhis principle l find applicable to short lines, where powerful transmission is not required. The various boards are mounted only at the ends thereof, so that the tension of the several lines tends to bend the boards in the direction of the connected lines, the resulting resilience of the board being thus made available in the transmission of the vibration from one line to another.

That l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A mechanical-telephone exchange consisting ot' a number of diaphragms and connected line-wires mounted upon and in combination with a common sounding board adapted to vibrate simultaneously with said diaphragm and line wires, substantially as herein set forth and described.

2. A common sounding-board supported at its outer edges, the remaining surface being free to vibrate, in combination with a series of diaphragms and connected line-wires mounted thereon, whereby the tension of said IOG Wire and diaphraglns is imparted to said sounding-board, substantially as herein set forth and described.

3. A series of mechanical-telephone diaphragms and connected line-wires mounted upon a common sounding-board in such a manner that the tension of the connected line-wires tends to pull the diaphragm in a direction away from the sounding-board, substan tiaily as herein set forth and described.

4. In a mechanical-telephone apparatus, two apertured boards mounted one over the other and separated by a partition-board, in combination with a series of diaphragms and connected line-Wires mounted upon each board, the wires from the front or primary board being arranged to pass through apertures between the diaphragms mounted upon the undei-lying or secondary board, substantially as herein set forth and described.

5. A series of mechanical-telephone diaphragms and connected linefwires fastened to a common apertured supporting-board, in combination with a series of mouth-pieces arranged upon the opposite side of said board concentrcally with respect to the said dia phragrns and apertures, substantially as herein set forth and described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 5th day of 3o May, A. D. 1890. y

GEORGE FREDERICK SHAVER.

NNvitnesses: l

HAROLD J. FooTN ER, WM. J'. OCoNNoR. 

